Open market

“Khola baajar er hawa chupi sarey korey dhawa ei muhurte” is a line from a Bengali song! Roughly translated it means “the winds of the open market economy is quietly shadowing and chasing you right at this moment “. I suddenly remembered this line when a leading internet player was talking to us about the great inroads they have made into rural India. And now that inroads in the name of spreading net-literacy has been made why don’t the multinationals join in the bonhomie and take advantage. Together then all parties go dancing to the bank. Win-win for all. Isn’t it?

But my question is does everything need to be monetised? Do the villagers really need the Internet or do they need a square meal a day? Do they need market economy or just the right to be left alone to lead a simple village life? In the name of progress we are peddling capitalism. In the name of development we are fucking up someone else’s life now that we have fucked ours up successfully.... where do we draw the line?

And then that age old story will repeat itself again and again about how one day these villagers rise in protest and want their simple life back, they will be labelled naxals/maoists/anti-national. Government machinery will swing into action, land will be grabbed, food and livelihood will be snatched. Crores worth of projects will be distributed amongst political parties while the owners of the land- the villagers languish.... can we really wash our hands clean and say we are not to blame. No we all have blood on our hands! We are all guilty and yet we all turn a blind eye coz revenues need to be made, salaries need to justified and awards need to be won!